Improvement in car-couplings



W. G. HAWLEY.

CAR-COUPLNG.

N0.174;,133. Patented. Feb. 29,1876,

'I NITED STATEsPATENT OFFICE.

WARREN Gr. HAWLEY, OF RUSHVILLE, NEW YORK.

IMPnovEMENT IN CAR- CQUPLINGS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 174,133, dated February 29, 1876; application filed f .January 2 9, 1876.

To all whom. 4it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN G. HAWLEY, of Rushville, in the-county of Ontario and State of New York,\have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Gar-Coul lings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of one end of a freight-car platform showing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal -vertical section. Fig. 3 is a y perspective viewA of the parts for adjusting the draw-head.

My improvement is specially designed for freightcars, but is also applicable to passenger-cars. It relates to a draw-head that is vertically adjustable to cars of different heights;

and the invention consists, in the combination, withadraw-head, of a loop, rack, pawl,sliding shaft, and pivoted arms, arranged 'as hereinafter more fully described.

A represents the platform of a freight-car. Bis the draw-head. The draw-h ead is attached Vunder the platform, so asv to be vertically vadjustable in front, to adapt it to couple with cars of varying heights. The rear end rests in a boX, a, that has a coiled spring, b, behind it, to break the shock Awhen the cars strike together. The front end rests in a loop, C, which has side ribs orlugs running in grooves c of a way, D, attached to the under side of lthe platform, by which the loop is kept in a `vertical position as it moves up and down.

This loop is combined with the other parts as follows: cl is a stiff rack attached to the top of the loop U, extending up through theplatform.

E is a pawl or slide within the platform, which moves laterally in ways ff, and engages with the teeth ofthe rack. G is a shaft resting in bearings l1, h h at the end ofthe'platform, and

. having at one end a hand-wheel, F, which rests outside the car. This shaft is capable ofbotha rotary andan end or longitudinal motion. A chain, k, connects the draw-head B with the shaft, so that by turning the latter the draw-head may be raised or lowered.

J is a rockarm, pivotedat m within the platform. It passes through a lug, a, on top of the pawl E, and its front end has a loop, o,

vand hold the loop supporting the draw-head in a fixed position. It will be observed that the shaft G serves the double purpose of raising the draw-head by its rotary motion, and (logging it by its end motion.

r is a circular stop on the shaft G. H is a pivoted arm, forming alatch or catch,arranged to turn up and down vertically, and having an open hook end, s, which strikes over and engages on the shaft G.. When the shaft is moved lin endwise, so as to engage the pawl with the rack, the hook s rests outside the stop r and prevents back motion, as shown in Figs. l and 3, but when raised it allows the back movement of the shaft, and it then rests and rides on top the circular stop @not interfering at all withthe rotary motion of the shaft in raising or loweringt he draw-head, to position.

I is a hook, which rests within a slot. 0, of

the draw-head, and with which engages the link or shackle u. The hook is pivoted at the top, and israised by a cord or chain, u. 'The lower end of the hook is made curved, as shown, -so that when the link is engaged therewith-the curve will prevent accidental disengagement. When under strain the back of the hook rests against shoulders ze, and

the great strain is thereby removed from the pivot of the hook.

The devices above described are very convenient for changing the adjustment of the draw-head, and forholding it in placeat any adjustment. Itis especially adapted to freightcars, as the adjustment, as well as the coupling, can be made from the outside.

1. Thccombination, with the draw-head B, provided with the hook I, of the loop C, rack d, pawl E, shaft G, and pivoted arms J El1 ing of the latch H'when thrown up thereon, I

as herein shown and described. v

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

WARREN Gr. HAWLEY.

Witnesses:

R. F. OsGooD, E. B. SCOTT. 

